Baby: Infant – Newborn – Toddler
When to Lower the Crib Mattress as Baby Starts Sitting and Standing

When to Lower the Crib Mattress as Baby Starts Sitting and Standing

The Short Answer: Lower Before the Skill Is Fully Mastered The most practical rule is to lower the crib mattress before your baby can use the crib rail as leverage. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises lowering the mattress before a baby can sit and setting it at the lowest position before the child learns […]

What to Do When Baby Rolls Onto the Stomach During Sleep

What to Do When Baby Rolls Onto the Stomach During Sleep

Start With the Back-to-Sleep Rule The safest default is still back sleeping at the start of every sleep. That means bedtime and naps both begin with baby placed on the back on a firm, flat, separate sleep surface. If baby later rolls onto the stomach on their own, that does not automatically mean you did […]

Baby wakes every hour

Baby wakes every hour

Why a baby may wake every hour Infant sleep is biologically different from adult sleep. Babies spend substantial time in active sleep, a lighter phase that may include facial movements, brief vocalizations, limb movements, and irregular breathing. They may appear awake even when they have not fully emerged from sleep. As one sleep cycle ends, […]

Common baby sleep problems

Common baby sleep problems

What normal baby sleep looks like Infant sleep is distributed differently from adult sleep. Newborns commonly sleep in several short episodes across day and night because their circadian rhythm and sleep-wake regulation are still developing. They also need frequent feeds, and some babies wake during the night because they are hungry. A young infant may […]

Baby fights sleep

Baby fights sleep

Why a tired baby may fight sleep Infant sleep is biologically different from adult sleep. Newborns have an immature circadian rhythm, meaning their internal timing system has not yet reliably synchronized sleep and wakefulness with the day-night cycle. Sleep is also distributed across multiple periods, and infants commonly transition through lighter sleep before entering deeper […]

Transferring a Sleeping Baby to the Crib

Transferring a Sleeping Baby to the Crib

Start With a Safe Sleep Environment Before picking up or settling the baby, inspect the crib. It should contain a firm, flat, snugly fitting mattress covered only by a fitted sheet designed for that mattress. The sleep surface should be free of pillows, loose blankets, quilts, stuffed toys, crib bumpers, positioners, and other soft objects. […]

How to sleep train a baby

How to sleep train a baby

Understand what sleep training can and cannot do Infant sleep is biologically variable. Babies have short sleep cycles, immature circadian rhythms, and changing nutritional requirements. Brief arousals during the night are expected; sleep training does not eliminate them. Instead, it may help a baby develop the ability to resettle without requiring the same sleep association […]

Moving Baby From Parents’ Room to Nursery

Moving Baby From Parents’ Room to Nursery

Why Families Consider the Move Parents may begin thinking about a nursery when their baby is approaching six months, becoming more mobile, waking in response to adult movement, or no longer fitting comfortably in a bassinet. Some families have limited bedroom space, work schedules that make shared-room sleep difficult, or a nursery located close enough […]

Baby only sleeps when held

Baby only sleeps when held

Why babies often sleep better when held Holding offers several cues that help an immature nervous system settle. A caregiver’s body provides warmth, rhythmic movement, gentle pressure, familiar scent, and auditory input such as breathing and a heartbeat. These cues can reduce the abrupt sensory change that occurs when a baby is placed on a […]

Sleep Changes After Vaccinations

Sleep Changes After Vaccinations

Why Vaccination Can Change Infant Sleep Vaccines activate the immune system by presenting antigens that train immune cells to recognize a pathogen or a component of it. This process can involve cytokines and other inflammatory mediators. Those signals may contribute to transient fatigue, reduced activity, mild fever, or a greater need for sleep. For some […]